School says viral salutatorian speech inappropriate, unapproved

The school that has drawn flak on social media for its officials stopping the speech of its salutatorian said they did this to stop her from discrediting the valedictorian, a TV report said Tuesday.

 

A report on News To Go said that the Sto. Niño Parochial School in Quezon City defended its officials' action in a post on social media, where it said that the speech of salutatorian Krisel Mallari was not appropriate for a welcome speech.

 

The speech that Mallari delivered during their commencement exercises last March 21 was also not the one she submitted and was approved by school officials, it also said.

 

According to officials, they showed Mallari's father how her grades were computed, but turned down his request to see those of the valedictorian's, as that would require the permission of the parents, the report said.

 

The school also insisted that their grading system is computerized and cannot be altered, it added.

 

The video, which has gotten more than 1.5 million views on YouTube as of this posting, showed school officials interrupting Mallari as she spoke at the podium.

 

The student tried to go on with her speech, where she said, "Maraming tao ang nagbulag-bulagan sa isang sistemang marumi at kaduda-duda. Ngunit 'di ko ito tinularan. Ipinaglaban ko ang sa tingin ko’y tama. Nanindigan ako bilang isang Pilipino na palaban at may takot sa Diyos."

 

At this point in the video, the school officials who were seated onstage went to the podium and handed her sheets of paper. 

 

As she tried to continue, the host interrupted her again, saying, "May I call on the attention of our school principal? Krisel can take her seat."

 

In her supposed speech, Mallari closed with these words, "I am Krisel Mallari, a Filipino citizen who would rather choose to fail with honor, than win by cheating."

 

In an interview with GMA News Online on Monday, her sister Katherine said Mallari wanted transparency, adding that the adviser refused to show the student her grades when she asked how they were computed.

 

Mallari's older sister also said the salutatorian was expecting the Best in Religion award, which was not given to her during the commencement exercises. 

 

She added that the school has not reached out to their family after the ceremonies. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KG, GMA News